Film cut-out



Aug. 4, 1925.

H. E. BUTLER FILM CUT-OUT 2 SheetsSheet Filed May 5, 1922 Henw E13 utlenHis Attorney Aug. 4, 1925.

Inventor: Her-"3 38.

R i 5 ALL own my;

Patented; Aug.- 4; 1325,

[Eruu n. BUT-LER, OF SCHENECTADY, Nil-31W YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECT-RIC I CQMBANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FILM err-our.

Application filed May 5,

of my application, Ser. No. 435,427, leil January 6, 192.

The invention rclatesto film cut-outs for electriccircuits such as arein' common use in series incandescent street lighting where by in casethe circuit becomes interrupted at any one of thelampsin series the filmout out acts automatically to open up a new or shunt circuit about thepoint of interruption and thereby permits current to pass through allthe other or unruptnred. lamps in the series so that the breaking downof one or more of a nnmherof larnpsiin series does not interfere withthe proper functioning of the remaining lamps.

Film cut-outs comprise two conductor terminals arranged in juxtapositionbut in} sulated from each other by amerhberof suchcharacter that whenthe flow of cnrrent through a lamp is interrupted the in creasedpotential of. the current resulting from such interruption operates tobreak" down or puncture the nien'iber and allows the current to hy-pu'ssits disrupted path through the lamp.

Upon rencwalof tho ciisrupteillamp ittis,

oticonrse necessary to renew the .cut -out film sov that current mayflow onlytln'ou h the lamp. It is accordingly necessary or the lamptrimmer to unanipuliat'e the. lamp soc-ketor holder to exiiose 'the filmcut-out and to then renew the delicate film in at?- (lition to removingthedisrupted lamp and inserting anew one, and this he ordinarily must dowhile stnndingon a ladder and often in inclement, and cold' weather.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved structure'anolarrangment in film cut-outs and for aconsideration'of what I believe tobenovel and my invention, attention is directed tothe'accompanying'descripti'on'and the claims appended thereto;

In the drawing, Fig.- 1 isa side elevation of a standard series socketandrcceptacle with a, cut-out film made in accordance with .my inventionapplied thereto; Fig. 2 is an x 1922. Serial No. 558,787.

axial'scction on line 2-2 ofFig. hand with .a stzmdarcl lump hose shownin the socket; 1 1g: 3 IS an enlarged perspective view of a film.structure and its protecting encasement embodying one form of myinvention; Fig.

4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but'with the yarts of the encasement shownseparate-d;

*igs. 5 anrl'ti show modified structures 0 certain party-Figs. 7 and-'8are viewsIsimi-l liar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively showing a modifier-iform of film structure; Fig. 9

iso perspective view of the film structure shown in Figs, '3" and 8;Fig. 10 is an explode-(i view thereof; F i 11 shows the film structureillustrated in ig. 9 used .in connection with spring contact terminalsas shown in Fig. '5, and Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form. -ot'casing.

' Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates areceptacle having a base 11and a-bracket 1-2 provided with a threaded end 13 adapted to hecomiecle-(i to a lamp post bracket. Carried by liase ll are twoopposcdspring contac ts l4 and 15 to which are connectedfbincl- 1 incposts ltl and 17. which receive'the series line terminals. 18 indicatesa lump socket having a threaded shell'19 adapted. to receive thetin-ended end 20 of an. inc-andesk centlainp 21. Shell 19 forms oneterminal connection forvtlie lamp, the other. being as typical of anysuitable series-circuit arrangement embodying a. film cut-out. Thespecific arrangement shown is a known one and one in extensive use atthe present time. it. operates-as follows \Vith a suitable insulatingfiln1 -het-wecncontact ends 27 and 28 and a lamp in the formed b acentral contact 22. Contact 22 I and shell 19 are connected by screws'23and It between the ends 27 and 7 socket, current enters by way ofbinding post 16, for example, flows through sprin s contacts 14 and andscrew to central Contact thcnte through the lamp filament to shell 19and by waybf-screw24 and 'spring contacts 26 and 15 to"-terminal 17..As-long as -tlie' lamp is in circuit the potential across spring contactends. 27jand 28 is not sltfiicieht to rupture the insulat ing; film, andlience such ends remain in sulated from each other." In case the lamp.burns outio'ris removed, the series circuit is interrupted. This buildsup/a'potential 9 across contact ends 27 and '28 'sufliciently high torupturethe film.,and efi'ect a connection' between such ends. A circuitis thereby close'd around. the burnedout lamp as is-obvious and.theopefration ofthe remaining lamps in the series circuit is. not

interfere(i' with. In ordinary street lighting practiczilamps are useduntil they burn out, which. means of course that the insulating fifmsareruptured. The -attendant, when he finds. azlamp' burned out must,therefore, not only put' in a-lnew'one but renew the filni also. I i

. 'My' invention relates particularly to an improved film structure and.film Icut-out arrangementand according to my invention,

I profvide a. film structure in'the form of a package comprisingsufiicient insulating ma'' terial to form a 'number 'of films for usebetwe'n the contacts. This package is'mountedadjacent the two contactsurfaces which form the cut-out conne tion and a; portion of thematerialis locate between such sur- 'faces to form the insulatingfil nbetween them. For lighting circuits in common use Y I havejound thintracing cloth or other flexible material of a similar nature, a suit-,able'material from which to form the package. Such a material has.awry-uniform dielectric strength; The package is arranged'so that vrhena filniis'pulled from between'the.cohtacts',a'fresh piece of thematerial or a. new film willbe pulled from.

the package into position between them. \Vith this arrangement,therefore, when a film is punctured and it is desircduto renc'w it, itis only necessary .to pull the ruptured ilm out when a fresh one willtake its place,

"Preferably the package is in the form of a' strip or,ribbon of theinsulating material 0" suitahly folded or rolled upon itself? to form acompact structure, .and this structure is then preferably mounted in-acasing or capsu'le having a slit alongitsside tlireugh wrl ihli the endof the'strip projects. 4 The casing itself preferably made of insulatingmaterial and is moisture proof and serves to protect the insulatingmaterial from dirt and moisture and also serves as aholder forit.

Referring partieular'l'y to the arrangement shown in the drawing, (Figs.3 and4). which is a preferred cnih'idirncnt of my-iiivention, the filmcut-out package comprises a capsue of suitable m.oisture.-pioo-finsulating material having a slot 36 along its's'side.

turel end of the strip,

In the capsule'is a roll of the insulating each member having slot asshown. In assembling a capsulethc :roll 3-7. is slipped .illtO the onemember 'ivith its end in the slot therein after which the other memberis slipped ovcr the'first and the twogluedtoglether. :This forms acompact package avhich can'he easily-manufactured at'alow gist and whichis veryconvenientto hane.

F or. use in a fixture as shown in the dra'wing, the roll is made of. alength'slightly I greater than the Width of contacts 25 and. r

and f a dim t' m fia-nicely between the bowed-out parts 29 ant-1'30 ofsuchicon- -tacts. In its application to this fixture, a capsule isslipped bet-weenthebowed-out parts'29 andBO with'the slot 36 upward 'asi shown in Figs-land 2, and yvith the .end

of'thestrip'between Contact ends 27 and 28 and projecting slightlybeyond them. Now, 'is. onlyne'cess'ary'to pull out on the endo-fthestrip. when the punctured portion'ivill incase the film is punctured, torenew it, it

be removed-from between the contacts and a. fresh portion take its.place. The. punctured portion may -be then torn off,

care. being taken to tear it slightly. beyond contact endszi and 28 soas to'le-ave suffieient material projecting to.tal e hold-'01.-

when the film is to be again renewed. Under actual operating conditions,7 the steps in putting in a newlamp for oneurned out may besubstantially as follows.

The attendant may first remove the burned.

,out lamp '21 after yhich'he'pullsthelamp -Then -by.

socket 18 out ot-receptacle .10. grasping the two endsflof;thefcapsulebetween the" thumb and-.lingerfand pushing downward on it, it will pushagainst the lower beveled surfaces-of bowed out *por-. tions 29 .30and-spread slightly the con-.

tact ends 27 the attendant may then pull on the end of the strip topull. the'punctured portion from 'iio and 28. lVitlithe other hand"between the. contacts ahd a, fresh unpunc-.

tured portion to a position between them, He then releases his-hold onthe capsule permitting the Contact ends to come together -again afterwhich he tea-rs oil the A neiv lanilris then SCI'i'WGLl may the socketand the socket pusLcdbadr into the receptacle. -While it is notnecessary that the contact. ends be spread inpullino the strip betweenthem it is preferable to ger of tearing 0 so, as it avoids any clan--ordiSruptmg the strip, a

' llu :thing wliich'might happen should there be {huir 'on the contactends, for example.

If found desirablc,l may. provide means ion the strip or'ribbon toindicate how far it- 'ishould be pulledout in. renewing the film mi l tothis and I i'nay crease Perth-atet llfi film truvsmrsvly at spacedintervals on provide suimble marks: on it. In Fig. 3 I have indimtwilnmrlqs in the form of a circle the: diameter of :1. (1i .clo bi ing Slllicicnt for a renewal. and alga .1 (rear-Q 33?), In mat lng it renewal inwill be imtml that. the iiitti'flEli-LHFS.llilllti. lac-s 11m; come intoumituct I strip which is m. danger ct from his lltllid},

0i capsules: nmy .tmiumt and when the mutvyinl in in one Qf the tixtuvesiaa IZQQii up a: mu capsu e may be sub" Hut-F l. Since'tlw film nmtm' llis Within aiming 35. it cannot bet-mm iled or ijlz'ililzlgrl%(l in anywayti living mu'riwl and tun-tilled by the attendant. ft fixture as ownin 1 7g. 1 and *3 '1 x-ttii l iftl. fixture 212 w sat tl m ni 01 is:that it 1 i'lXllll'jS without. any Int olviahl w: in Fig. 3. ltwiil w 1.that my in \(mtiun mil: in other in ms in m ler to adapt; to other 0f,the tgucw It Mill-.1 flFb'imble. a cutting edge may he which-tile filmJim}? in? tort! l llriS'v MP S almsvn an awning wing whtnt m fvwl 10* ofFig. ha nium tlm mail Uf wmtncl (ml )l"l}b-(lll.- :1 slung) wlyrv- 0w?which in mm. lit E31 2. U I ll i t lmw um Pml um? prmhlml l ili springmean." uf Mil; it mu be at u s 'ning vt S ll'll as 2? mi armzw'mmzm in};.mvli that till? mum." @3531: it i, at" m v lii mnmlwyuml mutant 2. Withmum m" tlww zlirzmg'mziunts shown l7; Ply-1w. 5 ziml t"; it'will benutetl that Wluin the strip turn (wil 'acmss the (#(lge ii. short piecei let't prgie h ing WlElCll may he ,gyurqml by the fingers wlwn the filmt0 txugain wnuvv'eii.

This 00' found in connectiun clil i1. that them; 2111* l/lll 011 ElmContact Mule 21 i 5 stir,

.1 un' in 'shle tl and sm'nctiin ss CHIS!) trouble in that H y willprojwt xlim .li the film and short 1 cult the lamp. '10 take earn ofthis 00ml tiun, l provide, a sueciul film package wherein tlwn: am 111mlKl PLUUOUHS for the film in the twin nf metal ribbons which stand one onearl; swle the film,

This, ili'hnlgfillvtlt particularly traferl in w m l0 inuli aw. film-1*I r it 19 the li'." w: it 11 ruwpnvilv an; sun (and 2 and for u-zzvvHliiih"'&li-f time 1 'TliL him PUP-W ll=-"illli0i il lmvm "ml Engnvleptiujlu; ii! and w {"tiPzlilGS ll :md 45. H may be nmnlc of any k strml.

J! are ulnsml at 0th wi l unit an: providml with slots 46 am! at?\Vllit'll extend from tin": open ends 05' tirrvwpmclvs to pointsadjacent the ClUSWl and: (lyre it. Pvvtoz'izl'ily one rim-vg tzx=slo is0pm! :i 0219 (ml at flit: lmltlin mumb ,l mini the utlwr i'vcvg itnvleis open at of the lwlding meiizl'ier. ("n 10 A -"l 001i inin e z: iOllcumin mg: astrip m? ribbon at in ulzxtin inatvi'ial 48 aml .il M41111.Dml'mling x m z-ihwm 4. the tvm Ming lzti l am on flu! illlfil .im wllml1m lugittlwf in lmlimiml in the drawing. 'li wt Wluil; drip m." ribbon-41) ia formed, may be any sui able metal hi-J1 is vasily torn. It ofsazlmwmi. tlm same width as the insulating film nuati iinl m. CupfluleH11: 5

:31 similar M riblicm 49 lmt it is pref Pmbly zmulu :mmwmthan insulatingstrip am? mrctul i llllll-Jll 19 em- Llmt there will be. no (lam; ofill-etailliC ribbons +9 and M.

I A with Earl-I 0 COlHlHQ intu 01 upon 1'. In czipmlo 11 SlutLlm'mgliwhich the owl Hi 2 mi 5.1 111.0018 and wlwn uapmle 4f ll2!&'ll,if(l into iwrt-ptzu-lu 43. slot 52 is made to umm into lulu \vnlislot 4.? Sn 'ilm';

Hm ribbon may pw vct through slot 47 as slnm'n in Figs. 3 and 14). MPlulribbon 51 mitt-Mir; up ulnng tlw side of holding memlwz- Hf. aroundi'eceptaule 42" and along-- 10,.lXlSLll1tlllg strip 01: ribbon 4821s;slnm'n ini-iiculm-ly in Fig. 9. The, armingllmnt shown in tlmse figmfcsis used in sul stunts-Hy the Raincmanner as that i110; tr'zafml 21mldescribed in cmimctimi with to l inclusive.

p /"fill tliiF; zuixmgcn'sent will be seen that lt'wecn the sontavl.211L192? and there is'a piece of film insulating material ,48 protectedon-each side by the metal ribbons 49 and li' W'ith this arrangement Whenthe film punctures it is renewed in exactly the same manner asheretofore described. The operator grasps the ends 0? ribbons 48, 49 und51, pulls them all siniultnneously up helueen Contact ends 27 and 28 andtears then) off along a line just be- Qg'ond the ends of contact culls 231" and $28 By this arrunnimuent it nill be seen that the insulat ngli-lll nuzteriul 48 when bnin g renewed is proiw'xcd by the metal'ihhons 49 and bl from any burrs which may he projecting from coniactends 27 and 2S.

- In Figs.v T and 8 I have shown contact end 28 as heingfiprovided witha struck-in head or yu' ji-clionn -i so that it contacts with theinsulating film cut-out material only at this point. By this arrangement'the film insulating material will puncture at thepoint opposite head53. This arrangement is sometimes desirable in orderto insure that thepoint of puncture occuw 'at, the center of the portion of the lihn loirated between the contact ends. In Fig. 11 I have-shownlhe film cut-outstructure of Fig. 9 used in connection with contact ends of the type'shown in Fig. 5.

The capsules 4A and 45 may he made of suitable material Such aswaterproof paper and may be of the nature of the capsules sh'own in 3and-4, exee .t that owing to the use of the holding mom HIT-11 I needuse but one'czipsulen'iemlfer instead of two telescoping members asshown in it and 4. ln this nrrsngement'the open ends of the eapsu'len'ieinher's 44 and 45 are closed by the ends of the receptacles inholding 0 member ll'.

in Fig, 12 T have shown amodiliedform 0f eapsule comprising a eg linderof suitable material such waterproof paper, fibre or the like huving oneor both ends 45 cloned by -meuus of small disks which may be glued orotherwise fastened in place. This forms :1 capsule which may be rcuelilybuilt at a low cost. In Accordance with the provisions of the pulloutslatutcs. lluu'p described the principle of operation of my" invention,to-

Hilli r ill Elli :ipy'iurutus which l now considm to repnwm the bestemholument thercofl but I desire to have it umleitstood thattileapparatus shown is only illustrative and that the inventimi may becuriied out by other means,

\Vhut I claim as new and desire to Sfi'llll' by Letters Patent of theUnited' States is:

l. in a film cutout the combination with :1 pair of contacts adapted toengage each othcrfoi :1 package mounted adjacent said (Ollliutscomprising a casing haringn slot 06 in one of its Walls and a quantityof insu- 'ircuit said terminals. and a pltlllillfiil lli laling materialenclosed in said casiu: ant .ficient to form a number of films .lfor'use betweentbe contacts the arrangement b4;- ing such that when onelilin is mow infill between the contacts a fresh one is pulled throughsaid slot to take its pluce.

2, In a film cutout, the munbiuai on n ith 'a pair of contacts adoptedto engage each other, ol :1 pack e Ell-(mulle a7. rrnt will conta tseozupris in on of its w lls, nu. ing material enclosed t min eil to bepulled aluouggi: iln: sf wi l rlrip being sullicientlx longto it in amum 'ocrof lilms for use between said 23. In a. lilm cutout, ie :oznimwith a pair of contactsadapted to h each other, of pucliuu'u mounted(ill said contacts roinprising u casim; b; no" a slot in one of its allsand n. lilting ribbon enclosed therein and adapter to be pulled throughsaid slot; said. M) "being sufficiently long to form n nurnlwr lihns foruse between said contacts. 7

'4. In a lilni cutout the combii-latou will :1 pair of contacts, of apackage co up 'is .ing a moisturwproof having sloi in one of its Willlrland sulllcient iitsi'littll material therein to form :1 nun er oi illfor use hetwsys'n tililkl coutnc will 'lllllli being adapted to hepullev .slot.

ill In :1 lilln (Jul-out the up a pair ol contacts. of a dug n xnois'turi';proof nu in one of its walls iillkl sulucicni materialtherein to form 2-. number f r use between said LDllli'nlr-gbeingndupted to he pulled tin and means for iiuounting mu. j'noent thevc-nlmqlsy iii age comprising sufficient insulating; mate rial to term anumber of films fo tween said (mixture mounted in i 'ont portion T 8.The combination with it so-"kct terminals and, adapted to rel-vi? an eltrical device, of contacts; adugxted to suluting material mountedadjacent contacts, said package containingmaterial suflicient to form anumber of films between said contests.

(3. in u film lint-out, the ionilvinat on Will! .to short circuit 'age.1 11' use in iv-:innM-iim: witi:

9. The: combination with :1 sncizni is terminals and min'pmd inrim-intYiCFIIJiQYiCE, of Ffilli'ifl cm. twir m Shaft ('ilfL'Uit miniPIEUiNT-ii. age of-inauiniing mutvr ui win 1; acts and containingnmim'iai nii form {L number of films iwiwmn i 10. The ciimiiinritk iwith :1 ing terminais and mizigriwi i=2 fileCtl'iCiii device. (if wringum miiii u'u miw X liiiiiii age of Maui tm'ris said pmsulaiing mfiim'iuimi" :4. f nn a numiiw of ii tacts.

11. As an article 0i izmn i'w age for use in ci'inzu iirin wifi saidpaviragps rmii' iating nmiieriai in number (If Him 3 (2min; i with anopening through in lilting material may he p'uiiwi) 12. As in iriinlieof mzmn age fer use in com said package iing a (f continuous strip 01i[1. -'i( therein of sufli-"imt iensrii in her nf iiims, said iiSiHLlfb" 5 ge'miieil with an opening throng-ii whwn iii? Emmi liltingnmterizsi may be gmii 13. {is an am ick Mum; H

h timid saidpackage sum; of inmiiating mafm'iafi form a nm'ubm of films14. As in fll'fiiCiO n" izmmifaciiisi'e. age fnr use'i'n cw: i with iiimsaid packiig slut long: im sixiv, and n of insniaiing igmgvii'ui in011%! end ni njecii Um].

i5, 1A "1? Y'Uii of inmii: in form :1 nmum' 0i 1 v V w ing tin 5mm,timing!) vii cumimznus strip wiifi i pacts. and phi w acnideniui lpuu'inhim is: being tw nned. 11in a 11m cutnutiii! .11;: ribi-nns iii 22 "Hi iA 1 I a pack ig" awin wnnm-timi with film cutouts, my; pHCi lii i wmma--a vasing, insulnting mntei'iui tiuanwin ficirnt to form a and im.

i-mi (1121: 141 tiwi' zi a! :3) A: iuia oi muminn-tine, a pinkn(*OUIHCLiUH wiih iiim cut-0 .1%, "(Filifil'iiiiig a imitiillg member acontinuous strip and a mniinuous aim, of 52m:

n said we w i'irifi'ir 1 1nd i in: am whiz: up in nuewyf 521d 1*containing a T011 i in, the other of said ui'miure, a packwzi'h Rimcut-r a hold ing iii rials lying on ermh Ride of the :21, p115? 0fspring contacts other 01' said capsules containing a roll hf protectingmaterial, saidprotecting matw insufla'ting materiai -when they arepulled from the, rolls.

In a mm rutout, Fae coln't irmtiwn of lmving PIJIS adapted to engagesuch when a, pmmge c0mprising n cohtimmus strip of insuiuting materialSufficientto "four: {1 mnnbei" of films for use hfitwovn Quid contrurh,'lilit] package Ming :1 MM! arljacvnt wi d wniact finds; and meansfol-mung a :11? ting "edge? on one of the Contact ends over which thefilm material may be torn.

27. The C Smbi-natiQn of two spring cantacts in simuit, one of factsbeing longer and rnojecting beyond the ther; a spool xotatably mountedin operative relation with said contacts; and a destructiblefilm 0finslflating material co'iid upon said spool and passing between saidcontacts, substantially as dbsuribed.-

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my'hzmd this 3511 day of May,1922.

' HENRY E. BUTLER.

adjacent said 0011-

